Flash light device



Nov. 20, 1934. T. w. FREcH si' Al.

FLASHy LIGHT DEVICE Filed Nov. 30, v-1932 .ZNI/ENTDB. 5' THE'DDUAE WFREEH JUHN T11-ADAN JUHNF DDMD MAN ELA/IEA E7. JSA-Aa Patented Nov. 20,1934 UNITED STATES PATENTl OFFICE l Fagan, Cleveland Hei East Cleveland,and Elmer B. Isaac,

Heights, Ohr

ghts, John .F.

Donovan, Cleveland o, assignors to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Application November 30, 1932, Serial No.645,002 4 Claims. (Cl. 24o-10.61)

Our invention relates to illuminating devices and more particularly toflashlight lamps. Still more particularly our invention relates toelectric flashlight lamps comprising a battery and an electric lampflxedly united so as to constitute a single inseparable unit. The objectof our invention is to provide a flashlight which will be inexpensiveand easily manufactured.

One of the features of our invention is a metal terminal which supportsan unbased electric lamp at. one end while the other eni is designed toslip over the carbon electrode of a dry battery. One of the leading-inwires of the lamp is attached to the said metal terminal, thereby con-16 stituting said terminal both a support for said lamp and anelectrical connection to the said carbon electrode. The secondleading-in wire of the lamp is connected to a suitable switchingarrangement by Which contact can be made with the metal container whichcomprises the second electrode of the dry battery. Other features andadvantages of our invention will appear from the following .detaileddescription o f species thereof.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a flashlight devicecomprising our invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof turned at anangle of 90 from Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view, on an enlargedscale, of a terminal used therein; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation ofa modified form of our device; and Fig. 5 is a perspective,view, on anenlarged scale, of a terminal and switching arrangement `tmed therein.

Referring to Fig. 1, the device comprises an electric incandescent lamppreferably of the type l comprising a solid glass spherical lens portion10 having a tubular neck portion 11 depending therefrom. A filament 12in said neck portion is mounted on inner leading-in wires 13-14,portions of which are sealed in a glass bead 15. Said inner leading-inwires 13--14 pass through the wall of the neck portion 11 and terminatein outer leading-in wires 16-17. The lamp 10 is seated in a metalterminal which comprises a substantially circular collar or band portion18 (Fig. 3) surrounding the neck portion 11 of the lamp, and a smallersubstantially circular collar or band portion 19 surrounding the end ofa battery terminal rod 20, generally a carbon rod. 'I'he collar portions18-19 are formed at each end of an lnterconnecting body portion 21.'I'he rod 20 comprises one electrode of a dry cell while the secondelectrode consists of a metal container 22, usually of zinc, which holdsthe battery mix 23. A disc 24, usually of cardboard, is located in thecontainer 22 on top of the battery mix 23. A second 38 on top of whichis located dry cell comprising a container 25 and center electrode 26may be provided below the first dry cell with the electrode 26 incontact with the container 22 of said rst dry cell. The leading-in wire16 passes through a slot 27 (Fig. 3) in the collar portion 18 of theterminal 2l and is connected to the body portion thereof, preferably bysoldering. 'Ihe other leading-in wire 17 is connected, by solderingorclamping, to a metal strip 28 which has an insulating enamel coatingthereon. Said strip 28 passes down along the sides of the dry cells22-25, then across the bottom of the cell 25, terminating in a curvedspringy portion 29. 'I'he end 30 of said curved portion 29 is free ofinsulating enamel so that it may be used as a switch to contact with thecontainer 25 to light theffilament 12. A tube 31, preferably of heavypaper or cardboard, surrounds the entire assembly extending from thelowest point of the curved switch 29 to a point just above the center ofthespherical lens l0. A sealing cement or wai' 32 is poured into thetube 31 so that the cell 22 is sealed off and the lamp 10 and partsconnected thereto are iixedly sealed in.

The flashlight is vpreferably assembled in the following manner:

The neck portion 11 of the lamp is inserted in the collar portion 18 ofthe terminal 21 and the leading-in wire 16 is brought out through theslot'27 therein and soldered to the said terminal. The collar portion 19of the terminal 21 is slipped over the end f the carbon rod 20 of thecell 22 to which the terminal 26 of the second cell 25 may be soldered.'I'he insulated metal strip 28 is then placed along the sides of thecells 22-25 and the paper tube 31 is slipped over. the said cells fromthe bottom until the top thereof is flush with the top of cell 22. Theleading-in wire 17 is now clamped or soldered to the strip 28, the tube31 is pushed up to a point just above the center of the lens portion 10of the lamp-and the sealing cement 32 is poured in.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown a modified form of flashlight in which theneck portion 11 of the lamp is set in a collar portion 33 of a terminal10 34 comprising also a smaller--collar portion 35 which is slipped overthe end of an electrode rod 36 of a vdry cell. Said dry cell comprisesalso a metal container 37 which holds the battery mix 39. The collarportion 35 of the terminal 34 is split and has straight; skirt portions40 extending therefrom, said skirt portions terminating in oppositelydisposed hook portions 41. One end of a metal strip 42 having aninsulating 11 a cardboard disc 1 05 enamel coating thereon is locatedbetween the hooks 4i. Said strip 42 passes up over the top of thecontainer 37, then down along the outside wall thereof, terminating in acurved portion 43. The end 44 of said curved portion 43 is free ofinsulating enamel so that it may be contacted with the container 37,which comprises one of the electrodes of the dry cell. The leading-inwire 17 of the lamp is coimccted tothe strip 42, the enamel being, oicourse, removed. The container 37 is filled to the top with a seaiingcement or wax 45 thereby sealing oil the cell and sealing in the lamp l0and connecting parts. bling this ashlight, the lamp 10, terminal 34, andstrip 42 may be assembled as shown in Fig. 5 and the entire assemblyplaced in the con taine; 37 with the collar or band portion 35surrounding the end of the carbon rod 36. The sealing cement 45 is thenpoured in through the top to complete the flashlight. The container 37may be given a mottled or colored finish to improve the appearance.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. In a flashlight, the combination of an electric lamp having a bulbcomprising a neck portion,.a light source in said bulb, and a pair ofleading-in wires extending externally of said bulb, a dry batterycomprising a positive and a negative electrode, a metal terminal membercomprising an upper collar portion adapted to receive the said neckportion of said lamp, a lower portionshaped to tit with a portion of oneof said electrodes of said battery, and an intermediate body portionconnecting said upper and lower portions, one of said leading-in Wiresof said lamp being electrically connected to said terminal member, and aswitch comprising a metal strip connected at one end to the secondleadingin wire of said lamp and adapted to make contact with the secondelectrode of said battery.

2. In a flashlight, the combination of an electric lamp comprising abulb, a light source in said bulb. and a pair of leading-in wiresextend- -ing externally of said bulb, a container comprising one of theelectrodes of a dry battery having also a second electrode, one of saidleading-in wires of said lamp being connected to said second electrode,a switch comprising a metal strip con- In assem-y nected to the secondleading-in wire of said lamp, said strip extending along, and insulatedfrom, .the side of said container and across the bottom thereof andadapted to make contact with the said bottom of said container, aninsulating tube surrounding the sides of said container, said strip, anda portion of said bulb, and a filling of insulating cement in said tubesurrounding the lower portion of said bulb to hold it lxedly therein.

3. In a flashlight, the combination of a metal terminal membercomprising an upper collar portion adapted to receive the neck of alamp, a lower portion shaped to fit with a portion of a batteryelectrode and having a hook portion exm tending therefrom, and anintermediate body portion connecting said upper and lower portions, anda metal strip having an insulating coating thereon, one end of saidstrip being mounted in said hook portion of said lower terminal memberand the other end being adapted to make contact with the secondelectrode of said dry battery.

4. In a' flashlight, the combination of an electric lamp having a bulbcomprising a neck portion, a light source in said bulb, and a pair ofleading-in wires extending Aexternally of said bulb, a dry batterycomprising a positive and a negative electrode, a metal terminal membercomprising an upper collar portion adapted to receive the said neckportion of said lamp, a lower portion shaped to iit with a portion ofone of said electrodes of said battery and having a hook portionextending therefrom, and an intermediate body portion connecting saidupper and lower portions, one of said leading-in wires of said lampbeing connected to said terminal member, a switch comprising a metalstrip having an insulating coating thereon, one end of said strip beingmounted in said hook portion of said lower collar portion o! saidterminal member and the other end being adapted to make contact with thesecond electrode of said battery, the second leading-in wire of saidlamp being electrically connected to said strip.

' THEODORE W. FRECH.

JOHN T. FAGAN. JOHN F. DONOVAN. ELMER B. ISAAC.

